Chapter Text
Junior waited at one of the higher railings, waiting for the villain to appear. Kim told him to wait here and join in the fight when things got tough, but she highly emphasized that she "got this" and expected little to no aid. He understood, but he still wanted to help in his own way, even if it were a little bit! According to her, the villain this time appeared to be a green man who called himself "Professor Dementor".
She told him he would be drilling in from a big drill, according to a checklist she had recovered from when he stole said drill. And so, he waited and waited, and low and behold, the rumbling began. A drill from above destroyed the ceiling of the secret underground facility and out leaped a shortish green man who yelled out in a thick German accent, "HA! No top secret underground science facility can hide from Professor Dementor!"
He could see the redhead appear from the smoke caused by the drill and announcing, "And no smug villain can hide from-"
Professor Dementor's eyes widened, a shocked look spreading rapidly across his face. "Kim Possible?!"
"And boyfriend!" Ron announced proudly.
The shocked look on Professor Dementor's face faded in an instant. "Ah, I seriously doubt that."
"No, dude, it's true, really."
The villain thought for a moment. "Sorry, just can't believe it."
Then the crime fighters engaged what seemed like back and forth banter with the enemy. Something about the list Kim mentioned to him earlier, and how calling someone's mother was part of it? He didn't seem to figure out that part, he wasn't familiar with familial relations humans had. Junior only knew Kim's familial relations, and a bit of Ron's but that was all. The mini chimera was in deep thought for a moment on family until he heard Professor Dementor shouting one last thing.
"...Or, we could add one more item to my list: eliminate Kim Possible!"
Junior could see him aiming the laser drill at Kim and Ron and virtually jumped into action, but he stopped short and saw a blue bubble form around the duo. The attack from the laser drill was countered immediately thanks to Kim's battle suit. He wasn't familiar with it, but he did see her wear it on the day he was revived with the dragon balls.
Kim leaped high onto the platform Professor Dementor was on and prepared to attack until the man spouted something about her battle suit. Junior only let out a bored exhale and sat back down on the platform he was on, gripping the railings a bit too tightly and causing them to bend. He hadn't a clue on what to do at the moment, he was just really, really bored. Stopping that blue guy and the green woman he was familiar with last week seemed fun at least, but it didn't seem like he had something to do here.
The heroine was then met with a group of men targeting her, but she handled them all easily. Ron, however, only took notice of the laser drill by his companion Rufus and broke into a run.
Now this was more like it! The blue bio-android shot out from his spot and grabbed the freckled teen by the back of his shirt and materialized back to where he originally was. He cast his pink orbs below and noticed the laser drill was still shooting lasers like crazy.
"Thanks, little dude," Ron said, in between breaths. He seemed out of breath from all the running he had done.
The power he had acquired from the events of Yamanouchi disappeared altogether, or rarely appeared now. It was like Ron said, it comes and goes. Not that it mattered, it only meant Junior had things to do now! Even if it meant saving the blonde from imminent danger. He leaped off the platform and flew into the laser drill, destroying it from the inside and causing it to explode from within.
Professor Dementor gazed in horror. "No! How is this possible?! What other weapon have you acquired?!"
"Not a weapon, just a great kid," Kim noted proudly, watching as Junior flew out of the drill and right beside her with a grin. "And speaking of—hey buddy, next time, try to tone it down a notch with the destruction, okay? It might be dangerous, but it's still stolen technology." As she spoke, the destruction of the laser drill continued to sound as background noise.
Junior only sent her a sheepish grin and a shrug in reply.
"No matter, we will settle this next time!" Professor Dementor shouted, as he placed himself in an escape capsule and pressed a button, engines already beginning to fire. "And next time this suit of power will be your undoing!"
The mini chimera shot up to the sky simultaneously as the escape capsule had, grabbed it by it's curved top and slammed it back down to the ground, causing the engines to fail instantaneously.
Kim sauntered over to the villain sitting fearfully in his seat with a shocked expression. The glass around the capsule shattered as she approached with a smirk and her arms crossed over her chest.
"So you were saying?"
"Another day marked," Ron said glumly, aloud to himself, catching his girlfriend's attention.
"Huh? For what?"
He let out a groan and slumped in his seat, grabbing the drink he had ordered earlier and taking a lazy sip. "Since my powers went away."
After Professor Dementor was apprehended, Wade got them a ride back home, and of course they had the best seats. They were currently flying first class back to Middleton. Junior had the window seat, peeking out at the clouds above and cities below while Kim sat in the middle, and Ron at the other end. Junior could fly them all back home, but it was too far and the heroine really didn't feel like getting a bad hair day again. Besides, he seemed to be enjoying the new surroundings.
Kim gazed sympathetically at her boyfriend, but felt something weird from within. It wasn't weird, per say, but odd for the moment. Usually when one of the most important people in your life were feeling down, you'd feel similarly. Instead, she felt almost.. kind of relieved—almost satisfied even. She couldn't help but feel disgusted with herself, these feelings hadn't gone away ever since the first day of senior year. If anything, they festered.
"Ron, it's like you said, it comes and goes, remember?"
"Yeah, I know, but I really thought they'd stay this time," he replied. "I don't wanna keep being the bumbling sidekick. I don't mean to bring up things you don't wanna hear, but I gotta be strong for when something like him pops up again, you know? So I can protect you."
The redhead held his hand and squeezed it. "Hey, who said it had to be your responsibility? Trunks and the others can handle things like that, it's, like, what they do. We just have to stick to what we do best."
"Fighting crime?" he asked, looking up.
"Fighting crime," she assured. "Let's not worry about that right now, it's so not our ish." With that, she took back her hand, but was slightly surprised to see it was grabbed suddenly.
"KP, you saved the world last week, not them, you know that, right?" Ron asked, his hand tightening around hers. "They were all like Ce—uh, like super superheroes. They fly, shoot blasts, and can probably crush mountains yet it was you who saved them. Don't forget that. I know I won't."
Kim only looked at him skeptically. "It was a one-time thing and I took a risk I didn't expect to come out alive from. There's no way we'll get dragged into something like that again. As far as I know, I'm Kim Possible, just your ordinary girl who stops bad guys—you-you know, like Drakken and Professor Dementor just earlier. Not.." She balled up a hand into a fist, trying not to lose composure. "Not Goku, the guy who literally lost his life saving the world from being destroyed by an overpowered monster like Cell."
Junior turned back suddenly when he heard his father's name and started listening in on the conversation.
Ron nearly choked on his drink. "Wait, he's dead?!" he exclaimed incredulously, Rufus in his pocket choking on some food he was chewing when he heard his owner. "Cell already killed him?!"
The heroine looked at him with a puzzled look before doing a double take on what she said. "Oh, no, no, no! It was just something I heard awhile back. I'm guessing they used the dragon balls to revive him, I mean when he basically saved the world seven years ago—I think." She looked back in her memories to see if she got the story right. She heard it from the fiend himself, but she didn't want to admit that.
Ron only scowled when the bio-android came to mind, slumping back in his seat and crossing his arms. "Yeah, pretty sure we'll see his ugly mug never. He probably got his butt whooped by those guys. It was like, five against one!"
"Right," Kim just said, nodding in agreement, albeit skeptically. It might be paranoia, but something inside told her the chimera wasn't done with them yet. He could still be out there—the only assurance she could get now is from the people who were capable enough to beat him.
"Peanuts," Junior announced, planting a bag of airline food in Kim's lap and snapping her out of her intrusive thoughts.
"Oh, thanks Junior," she said, accepting the bag, mostly it was more for distracting her from her head. Nowadays she thought too much about the chimera or things of his nature.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is," Ron started once more, causing Kim to look back at him. "Their 'ish' can become our 'ish', get it?"
"I got it," Kim replied, elbowing him slightly. "Just promise me you won't strain yourself trying to get back those powers."
The freckled teen huffed. "Yeah, alright. I can't guarantee anything, but I promise you this." He leaned close to her with a determined look. "I won't let that jerk lay another finger on you—and that goes for Eric too! Might wanna start packing mouthwash to-go, Kim, he'll probably want to lay another one on you," he warned, a jealous expression flashing briefly.
"Ew gross, not like I'll give him another chance," she responded with a shiver, before noticing the other thing he said. It was almost like he also thought of the off-chance Cell survived. Looked like it wasn't just her mind this fiend invaded.
"Peanuts!" the mini chimera almost shouted with a firm look in place, planting another bag on her lap in a more aggressive manner.
Kim was yet again snapped out of her thoughts by Junior's action. She picked up the bag and sent him a curious look. "What's the deal with you and airline food?"
He looked down, almost in a pensive manner. The redhead continued to look at him, now with concern mixed in. Ron seemed to notice and gazed as well to see if the mini bio-android had something more to say.
"You were.. thinking of.. him again," he said hesitantly.
Kim and Ron just continued to stare, eyes widened just a bit. One-worded replies and short phrases were all they got from him, but now it seemed like he was capable of full-on sentences.
"Him?" Kim asked, leaning forward.
"You mean your dad," Ron said, almost stating it rather than asking.
Junior nodded. "My dad."
The heroine contemplated for a moment and shook her head, moving back abruptly. "No, he's not your dad."
Her boyfriend cast his eyes towards her in a confused manner. "Uh, I don't know, KP, he looks exactly like him and from what you told me, he came from him-"
"So not what I mean!" she interjected, sending Ron a brief look before returning to Junior. "You might look like him, you might be a product of him, but he is not your dad."
The mini chimera gazed at her with a confused expression, not knowing where she was going with this. Ron was nearly as puzzled as the child and waited to hear more.
Kim, reading the room, decided to expand upon her words. "A dad—a father doesn't do what he did. He might've created you, but he was nothing a father should be. A father is supposed to love and protect their child, and he willingly let you die just to get back at me. In his eyes, you weren't a son, you were just.." She clenched her fists, feeling livid at the absolute monstrosity of this fiend. "you were some kind of minion—someone who would do whatever he said no matter what, even if it meant putting you in harm's way. No father would do that to their child."
"Yeah, she's got a point kiddo," Ron said, his attention nearly drifting away as he noticed his drink being refilled. "Some people just weren't meant to be dads, Cell especially. Just like how some people just weren't meant to be moms, you could definitely put L in that category." After that, he took a sip of his drink.
"Moms?"
The redhead looked at him curiously. "Uh yeah, like dad but female. A mom takes care of you, loves and protects you just like a dad. Basically, everything Cell isn't, and not just because he isn't female since I'm still not too sure what he is."
After taking in the definition he was given, Junior looked up to Kim with a newfound look. "Are you my mom?"
Ron spat out his drink and began to choke. He pounded at his chest and struggled to breathe while Rufus tried to help him.
Kim's eyes widened as the question echoed loudly in her head. "What—no, no, no, I think you're confused, I'm not your mom."
"Takes care of you," he iterated, pointing at her.
The heroine scratched her head, averted her eyes and laughed awkwardly. "Well, yeah I mean, I do that, but I'm still-"
"Loves and protects you just like a dad."
"Okay, sure but-"
"Everything Cell isn't."
That settled it. Kim let out a long, deflating sigh. "Yes, technically by my definition, I could be," she responded. "But I'm not. Just think of me as your permanent babysitter until you get old enough to support yourself without me."
"So like a mom," Ron said in a strained voice, recovering from his coughing fit, before making a realization. "Oh cool, does that make me his new dad?"
"Not helping," Kim noted, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.
"Come on, KP. I think he could use some parents, I mean look at him!"
The heroine reluctantly turned to see an expectant expression on the mini chimera's alabaster face.
"What better than us to be the mom and dad he needs, who by the way, is ten times better than his old one—top shelf!"
"Hate to break it to you, but I'm not changing my mind," she said firmly, closing her eyes for a second and opening them to see an all too familiar expression on Ron's face.
"No, not that, anything but that!" she pleaded, immediately looking away. It was, of course, the infamous puppy dog pout. Avoiding it was her only way to get her way. She turned to face Junior and noticed he imitated Ron out of curiosity and she gave in.
"Fine!" she exclaimed. "Just don't go too crazy with it, we're only helping him feel better, alright?"
"Done and done!" Ron responded, before turning to Junior. "Hear that buddy? You can now refer to the Ron-ster as your new old man!"
While Ron and Junior were celebrating, Kim slumped in her seat. She heard the pilot on the intercom announce they were landing, but the only thing she focused on were her loud thoughts. It wasn't that she minded being his parent, it was the implication she had any sort of relationship with Cell that irked her. If anything, made her feel sick to the stomach. She tried to push the thought away but it only got bigger.
She couldn't feel anything.
Everything felt completely numb.
To lose the ability of movement was nothing short of torture; an unwarranted punishment. She could hardly see a way out of this situation given her circumstances. Global Justice had expanded since she left and the area looked unfamiliar to her, if anything, new. Still, it was better than being locked in her old dorm like before when she was teen.
The first thing she noticed was the size; it was enormous, the ceiling reached so high she almost couldn't see it, and the walls were so far apart it could cover multiple football fields. She couldn't see a reason why this area would be built, then again, her old man did a lot of things she couldn't find reason in.
"Are you awake?"
A gentle, calming voice suddenly hit her ears, which would've made her jump if she hadn't been incapacitated by the containment device. She looked above and her eyes met with the color brown.
"I'm guessing you are by that glare of yours," Betty noted, taking out a folding chair, setting it out in front of her and taking a seat.
Had she the right to glare the only person who treated her with kindness? She didn't like to think about questions like that, her mind instinctively blocked them from her head the second they made existence. Besides, she hadn't noticed she was even glaring in the first place.
It was silent after Dr. Director spoke, it was always like that since L's place of residence switched back to Global Justice. Still, it was better than her out there assassinating people for their life energy. That's what Betty thought at least.
"I've... I've brought you something to eat!" the brunette spoke up, bringing out an apple. "Remember? You liked fruits, these were your favorites."
L brought her cat-like eyes to the red fruit below, a disgusted expression flashing across her face as she looked away.
"...Or not!" Betty continued suddenly, hiding the apple behind her, clenching her fist around the fruit and closing her eye tightly for a moment. "Uh... let's see, maybe there's something else you'd like. I'm open to suggestions!"
The assassin kept averting her eyes, her head facing her left, ignoring Betty completely. The brunette felt her chest tighten momentarily, a sinking feeling in her gut when met with the response, or lack thereof. She hadn't been eating as of late, ever since she'd been contained. The containment device hadn't been removed, no attempt was made to remove it and return it to the government. She was afraid the blonde would make her escape and leave, and something told her she might not find her next time, or in a worse case, she would find her trying to kill again. She already had a clue as to who her next target was.
Dr. Director could only tighten her grip on the apple out of frustration. This situation wasn't fair to her, she felt she had done everything right in her life and couldn't fathom why she was being met with such hatred and fury. She could easily say their bond was closer than that of her own twin brother.
"I'm.. I'm trying my best, Lu-" she stopped herself short, before correcting herself. "L... pardon, L. I'm only trying to fix what happened, can you at least work with me? Please? I-I know what happened has brought you so much pain and sadness but I need you to open up to me so I can help!"
Nothing. No reaction, no movement, she was like a statue. She really appeared as such. In their younger years she envied her sister's beauty, to the point it was more alien than human, but she never allowed the sentiment to blossom or to harm their relationship. They were related, barely, but she was raised with the knowledge that she was as much a sibling as Sheldon was. She could handle losing her brother, but she couldn't handle losing her sister.
Betty let out a frustrated, sharp exhale. "Isn't there anything I can do to make you talk? Please, just say something to me—anything!"
After awhile, the blonde finally returned her eyes to her former sister. "Let me go."
The woman in the chair hesitantly opened her eye, unable to return it to the contained assassin in front of her. "You know I can't do that."
"Why?" L nearly yelled, her face grimacing immediately. The sudden change in her behavior caused the brunette to jump, as well as how intense her voice had become. "Because you're afraid of what I can do? Newsflash, I can't do anything anymore, I'm powerless! You were there when that old bastard took it from me!"
"You can still hurt people," Dr. Director answered in a low voice. "That sight years ago, I can't get it out of my head.. no matter how hard I try, it's always there."
"Right, like Sheldon hasn't done the same either," she spat back. "WEE? Is it? He's running an evil organization by the name of World Evil Empire and yet I'm the one who gets the short end of the stick!"
"It's nothing of the sort! We've just been unable to apprehend him! Situations happen and it's mostly luck that I've got you back."
The excuse only made L angrier, to the point where tears nearly formed. "You can save your excuses, I know what this is about. You can try to hide it all you want, but we both know who you've become—who both of you have turned into. You're just like him, in every aspect possible. I can't distinguish you two as any different from that monster!"
After hearing the accusation, Betty cast her eye above quickly, as well as her head. "Who are you talking about? Are you-are you comparing me to Gemini? To Dad?"
"There's nothing to compare, you're the same person in my eyes," the blonde hissed.
The director abruptly stood up from her chair, sending it backwards and making a loud, unpleasant sound—she winced slightly. An expression of anger splashing across her face. "I am nothing like him! You, out of all people, should know that! I gladly took leadership so I could undo the damage he's dealt to this organization!"
L formed a wry smile at her response, a small laugh leaving her mouth, gradually getting louder and raucous. "So how does it feel, Ms. Director? It feels good, doesn't it?" the assassin quizzed mockingly. "To be at the top, like he always wanted. Daddy's little girl making daddy proud as usual, fulfilling his last wish even after death."
Betty couldn't form a response at that point, the woman in front of her had switched emotions in seconds. She was furious in one second and disdain in the next. She hadn't been able to perform a psychological evaluation on her yet so with what she was given, she figured she was nearing insanity. The brunette was so focused on what was happening she didn't hear the doors she came from opening, as well as the initial steps taken by a newcomer.
"Betty! Are you done with this interrogation of yours?" a female voice inquired in a chirp-like manner.
Dr. Director made a sharp turn backwards, facing Sorgel in front of her. "What are you doing here? How did you get in here? This area is strictly off-limits, I don't even allow most of my own agents in here!"
"As usual, you people at GJ think you have all sorts of jurisdiction," the young scientist noted with an annoyed look. "Just because you're a 'secret organization' doesn't mean you can hide everything from us. I don't need any justification to be here, now, do I?"
Betty nearly scowled, but crossed her arms and stood in a way that made L barely visible to the newcomer. "What do you want?"
"Need," the bespectacled woman corrected, a hand on her hip. "My containment device, remember? Cell is still out and about, thanks to you and your agents' neglect. It'll take me years to make another, that one was already in the process of being made even right after he was contained seven years ago."
"Take some of my people to help, or better yet, I'll get one of the best to help you," the brunette replied, brisk. "He personally aids Kim Possible as part of her team, so you should receive the best results."
Sorgel frowned, unsatisfied. "No thanks, this is my project, and Cell is my specimen. I won't allow outsiders to have information on him and the device. Just hand it over, it's government property, not property of Global Justice."
"...I can't do that right now," Dr. Director replied, almost reluctant.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you lost it?!" she questioned angrily, taking a few steps forward. "Cell being captured the first time wasn't an accident, you know! If anything, it was purely based on luck! Many men were killed that day trying to get the first device on him! This current device is our only option! Not only do I need it back, but Sims ordered for its return!"
Betty moved back, trying to obstruct Sorgel's view of the assassin, although late when the scientist saw her very own creation. Her eyes had widened momentarily and her jaw dropped. She took an abrupt step back, her mouth closing slightly but her eyes still just as wide.
L and Sorgel made eye contact, although very briefly, it still occurred. She knew that look she was given, if anything, she was incredibly familiar with it despite only having known it once before many years ago.
"You need to leave," Betty interrupted, a glowering expression on her face. "Now."
The young scientist sent the brunette an unfazed look, virtually appearing bored. Later, she smiled slightly, joining her hands together for whatever reason. She stared at Betty with a knowing look. Betty only stared back with her glower remaining on her face, though with a bit of confusion thrown in.
"Actually, you can just hand her over," she suddenly said, pointing at L. "With the containment device, no need to take it off."
Dr. Director shot the woman daggers, seemingly more irate than before. "Human experimentation? Are you kidding me, Sorgel?"
"Honestly Betty, it's a fair trade. I was here for Cell and the little one and was given nothing. Nothing! Can you believe it? I'll admit, I did manage to come to an understanding of how you've given Possible ownership of him but I'm still owed one nonhuman, organic being. This will suffice."
"You think you can just change what it means to be human?" Betty rebutted with a scoff. "Of course you're a scientist."
"Well, obviously not!" Sorgel responded with a laugh. "But as far as I know, the containment device works solely on non-human, organic beings, partial or not."
The brunette suddenly went up to the scientist's face, pushing the woman backwards a few steps before lividly telling her, "Get the hell out."
Sorgel looked at her and saw a look that could kill. She wasn't experienced in fighting, so she wouldn't risk angering the director any further. She backed off, turning halfway to leave.
"I expect the very best, Betty. That containment device is no joke, it needs to be perfect. Absolutely flawless. Anything below that is only begging to be killed by Cell. I'm sure you must be familiar by now."
Dr. Director watched as the scientist sent her one last smile before leaving her and L in silence.